50:44.615 N 000:30.900E
ALBA and her travels
Jim Panks
Tue 8 May 2012 13:24
When technology works its great but when it mucks up it's infuriating. I wrote some blogs in the last 24 hours with th intention of uploading them as soon as possible. Anyway they took their time in going only to find out they have not arrived. There you go I had written a nice one this morning at 0330 whilst on watch, watching the night ferries bound for the Solent.
We are just passing Hastings and on time for an arrival late morning/early evening Wednesday.
It's pleasant this afternoon an overcast day, no wind and a smooth sea. I'm nearly through my watch the just two more before arrival.
We have to negotiate the Pas de Calais this evening followed by the sand banks of the Thames Estuary.
All in good spirit whilst 'Alex no fish' wonders why he did not catch one in around 400 hours of dangling lures over the stern. Me thinks its due to his technique. He did nearly catch a bird which took a fancy to his lure. I think lessons are called for.
A little while ago we returned to the Eastern side of the meridian and are now almost 800 miles of Valencia our starting place three weeks ago. We have travelled around 1800 miles at a slower speed than a marathon runner. It's had both high and low points. High points like Tim in Plymouth given us free showers and as an ex matelot letting us stay for six hours for a good sleep. Low points like watching the radar self destruct in forty mile winds and having no engine because of imbeciles in Valencia. There was also amazing events like using the sat phone to phone Falmouth rescue centre who arranged for us to be towed to port. And the lifeboat men were brilliant if somewhat expensive.
I'm on watch whilst my crew watch DVDs down below. Let's hope it finishes in an hour before I am off watch !!!!
Another sailors ditty later from the 'Not so motley crew of Alba'